HB 1167

                                                               Introduced Version
            HOUSE BILL No. 1167
                  _____
               DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 10-19-14.
Synopsis: Digital alert technology pilot program. Establishes the
digital alert pilot program (pilot program) administered by the
department of homeland security (department) to provide grants to
providers of fire, emergency medical, and law enforcement services for
the use of digital alert technology to notify motorists regarding the
location of providers' emergency vehicles. Establishes the digital alert
pilot program grant fund. Requires the secretary of public safety and
the executive director of the Indiana criminal justice institute to
provide a plan to the department not later than September 1, 2026, for
leveraging available federal funds to fund the pilot program.
Effective: July 1, 2026.
                               Bauer M
January 5, 2026, read first time and referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public
Safety.
2026  IN 1167—LS 6740/DI 87
                                                                                       Introduced
            Second Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2026)
 PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
 Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
 additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
   Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
 provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
 word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
 a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
  Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
 between statutes enacted by the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
                   HOUSE BILL No. 1167
   A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
 public safety.
     Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1    SECTION 1. IC 10-19-14 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
2 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2026]:
4    Chapter 14. Digital Alert Pilot Program
5    Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "applicant" means any of the
6 following service providers:
7      (1) A city or town.
8      (2) A township.
9      (3) A fire protection territory.
10      (4) A fire protection district.
11      (5) A volunteer fire department.
12    Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "authorized emergency vehicle"
13 means an authorized emergency vehicle (as defined in IC 9-13-2-6)
14 of an applicant.
15    Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "digital alert technology" means
16 technology that is capable of automatically sending a digital alert:
17      (1) when an emergency vehicle's lights are activated; and
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1(2) to a motorist through:
2(A) a navigational smartphone application; or
3(B) an in-vehicle navigation system.
4    Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "fund" means the digital alert
5 pilot program grant fund established by section 11 of this chapter.
6    Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "pilot program" means the
7 digital alert pilot program established by section 8 of this chapter.
8    Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "secretary" means the secretary
9 of the office of public safety, established by executive order of the
10 governor.
11    Sec. 7. As used in this chapter, "service" means any of the
12 following services:
13(1) Fire protection.
14(2) Emergency medical.
15(3) Law enforcement.
16    Sec. 8. The digital alert pilot program is established to provide
17 grants to eligible applicants for the use of digital alert technology
18 to reduce motorist collisions with authorized emergency vehicles
19 by providing notice to a motorist of the location of an authorized
20 emergency vehicle that is:
21(1) en route to an emergency; or
22(2) parked at an emergency scene, including in or alongside a
23highway, street, or road.
24    Sec. 9. (a) The pilot program shall be administered by the
25 department.
26    (b) The department shall develop criteria regarding the
27 expenditures for which a grant may be awarded, including
28 expenditures for:
29(1) the purchase or rental of dedicated transponders for
30installation and use in authorized emergency vehicles; and
31(2) the purchase of subscriptions to digital alerting platforms
32and cloud storage.
33    Sec. 10. The department shall do the following:
34(1) Prescribe the form and manner in which grant
35applications may be submitted.
36(2) Determine the eligibility of applicants and the selection
37procedures. The department must require as a condition of
38eligibility that an applicant must complete annual defensive
39driving training courses.
40(3) Determine whether the equipment or service for which an
41applicant seeks a grant fulfills the purposes of this chapter.
42(4) Determine the amount of a grant awarded to a recipient.
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1    Sec. 11. (a) The digital alert pilot program grant fund is
2 established for the purpose of funding grants to successful
3 applicants.
4    (b) The fund shall be administered by the department.
5    (c) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from
6 money in the fund.
7    (d) The fund shall consist of the following:
8      (1) Appropriations to the fund.
9      (2) Federal funds available for the purposes of the fund and
10      the pilot program.
11      (3) Gifts or donations to the fund.
12    (e) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not
13 currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same
14 manner as other public money may be invested.
15    (f) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not
16 revert to the state general fund.
17    Sec. 12. The secretary and the executive director of the Indiana
18 criminal justice institute shall, not later than September 1, 2026,
19 provide a plan to the department for leveraging available federal
20 funds to fund the pilot program, including preventing roadside
21 deaths grants under 23 U.S.C. 405, that are provided under the
22 National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's
23 National Priority Safety Programs.
24    Sec. 13. This chapter expires July 1, 2028.
 2026  IN 1167—LS 6740/DI 87